Shrinking, the Apple TV+ series co-created by Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso), and Brett Goldstein, has solidified its place as one of the most refreshing and emotionally intelligent comedies of the streaming era. With Season 2 wrapping up its run and Season 3 already confirmed, the show continues to captivate audiences with its unique premise: a grieving therapist who abandons professional boundaries to tell clients exactly what he thinks — with unexpectedly profound results.
Jason Segel stars as Jimmy Laird, a cognitive behavioral therapist reeling from the death of his wife in a car accident. Numbed by grief and struggling to connect with his teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell), Jimmy hits rock bottom and impulsively decides to ditch therapeutic neutrality. “It’s insane therapy that just might work,” as the tagline promises. Ignoring ethics and training, he begins dishing out brutally honest — often hilarious — advice, sparking huge, tumultuous changes in his clients’ lives… and his own.
Harrison Ford, in a rare comedic role, steals scenes as Dr. Paul Rhoades, Jimmy’s curmudgeonly mentor diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Their odd-couple dynamic — Ford’s deadpan gruffness against Segel’s vulnerable chaos — forms the emotional core. The ensemble is rounded out by Jessica Williams as fellow therapist Gaby, whose own boundaries blur; Christa Miller as Jimmy’s neighbour Liz; Michael Urie as best friend Brian; and Ted McGinley as Derek.
What makes Shrinking exceptional is its fearless balance of laughter and heartache. Episodes swing from laugh-out-loud moments — like Jimmy’s unfiltered sessions or Paul’s sardonic wisdom — to devastating explorations of loss, forgiveness, and mental health. Season 1’s finale left viewers in tears with Jimmy’s raw confrontation of grief, while Season 2 deepened relationships, introducing new clients and escalating personal stakes.
Critics have showered praise: Rotten Tomatoes holds a 91% for Season 1 and 95% for Season 2, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “one of the best shows about grief ever made — disguised as a comedy.” Segel’s performance earns particular acclaim for its vulnerability, while Ford’s turn is celebrated as a career highlight.
Co-creator Bill Lawrence’s signature warmth shines through, blending Scrubs-style humour with deeper emotional truth. The series tackles heavy topics — bereavement, ethical dilemmas, Parkinson’s, co-parenting — without ever feeling preachy, thanks to sharp writing and impeccable timing.
As Season 3 looms, Shrinking has proven therapy on screen can be entertaining, cathartic, and profoundly human. In a crowded streaming landscape, it stands out for daring to ask: What if honesty, however messy, is the best medicine? For anyone who’s ever needed a laugh through tears, this is essential viewing — proof that sometimes, breaking the rules heals more than following them.
